var playerInfo={"E630D11720E4B295":"1","07457F0B881B82B2A683E4C26A04178A":"","C1F9C3B7B448DF0BD36DA3E25FEAF02B":"A wonderful shot-stopper who combines bravery with resourcefulness, Thomas S?rensen is also a fine kicker having honed his technique with England's rugby union kicking coach.

National team

Previously an Under-21 international, S?rensen made his full debut as an 18th-minute replacement for Peter Schmeichel against Israel in Copenhagen in November 1999. An unused substitute at UEFA EURO 2000?, he thrived following Schmeichel's retirement and played all four matches at the 2002 FIFA World Cup before the Danes were eliminated by England.

UEFA EURO 2004? qualifying

Denmark's undisputed No1 on the road to Portugal, S?rensen missed just one of his country's eight qualifying fixtures, the home victory against Luxembourg in October 2002.

Club

Although he had played for Vejle BK and Odense BK in his homeland, S?rensen was largely an unknown name when he opted for a move to English side Sunderland AFC ahead of AFC Ajax in 1998 for €1m. The keeper proved an inspired purchase as he helped Sunderland to the first division title in his first season at the Stadium of Light, featuring in 45 of their 46 league matches. Over the next three Premiership seasons he missed just nine games, although injury limited S?rensen to 21 starts as the north-east club were relegated in 2002\/03.

2003\/04: Joined Aston Villa FC on a three-year contract for €3.2m after five seasons and more than 200 games for his previous employers.

Did you know?

S?rensen kept a club record 29 clean sheets as Sunderland won promotion in 1998\/99.","3653565C44D0522BBC38B7AEA6CD3180":"Stoke City,Aston Villa,Sunderland,Odense BK,Svendborg fB,Vejle","5B991257A722E1E0C4F532888E5AD43E":"Kh\u00f4ng ph\u00ed","556D73B2C9A2AD6A1BFA53519B08D73A":"1","B13BBD17F9E21D375893DBD6F2FC7F72":"3","249186B187931B83":"89kg","58D6F117B0E852FD":"196cm","32F0494A6A8D9C00F8184D20C089D458":"1976-6-12","0FA2227E78AF1E09":"Thomas Sorensen","0E220C818538BC03":"Melbourne City","72FFC7073AEDD99FBC6698239F961CC0":"2015-8-31","C684723272214583":"Thomas Sorensen","A16C626949206183":"400","809C0B5A31626463":"14324","50F712C5D7EA2EE53B2933CE43D8485E":"Stoke City","07FC4394D7BF000AD61AC26E2CE4C2AA":"\u0110an M\u1ea1ch","e_index":0};